Accomplice, n.
Etymology: [Ac- (perh. for the article a or for L. ad) + E. complice. See Complice.]
1. A cooperator. [R.] Success unto our valiant general, And happiness to his accomplices! Shak.
2. (Law)
An associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an offense, whether a principal or an accessory. "And thou, the cursed accomplice of his treason." Johnson.
Note: It is followed by with or of before a person and by in (or sometimes of) before the crime; as, A was an accomplice with B in the murder of C. Dryden uses it with to before a thing. "Suspected for accomplice to the fire." Dryden.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Abettor; accessory; assistant; associate; confederate; coadjutor; ally; promoter. See Abettor.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for accomplice; he lists it under accessory, associate.
Where he writes about it:
Colleague is used always in a good sense, associate and coadjutor generally so; ally, assistant, associate, attendant, companion, helper, either in a good or a bad sense; abetter, accessory, accomplice, confederate, almost always in a bad sense. — from accessory
An accomplice is usually a principal; an accessory never. — from accessory
At common law, an accessory implies a principal, and can not be convicted until after the conviction of the principal; the accomplice or abettor can be convicted as a principal. — from accessory
Accomplice and abettor have nearly the same meaning, but the former is the popular, the latter more distinctively the legal term. — from accessory